Unit 1: The Grammar GameshowTest your grammar knowledge

Session 22

Welcome to the Grammar Gameshow! Test your knowledge in this crazy quiz! The presenter is a bit strange, the points don't make sense and the prizes could use some improvement, but at least the grammar is correct!

Sessions in this unit

Session 22 score

Activity 1

Episode 21: Superlatives

So Liz claims victory again! She’s getting to be quite the contestant! But she’ll need all her knowledge this time. On this show the contestants challenge themselves on superlatives! Those comparative structures that tell us when something is outstanding in a particular way! Will Liz make it through again? Can you answer our questions? Who’s this rather important-looking character? Find out in this episode of the Grammar Gameshow!

WillHello, and welcome to today’s Grammar Gameshow! I’m your host, Will! It’s what separates us from the beasts! And of course, let’s not forget Leslie, our all-knowing voice in the sky.

Leslie Hello, everyone!

Will Tonight we’re going to ask you three questions about…

Leslie Superlatives! Those comparative structures that tell us when something is outstanding in a particular way!

Will OK! Now, let’s meet our contestants!

Liz Hello, all. My name’s Liz!

Will And contestant number two?

Reginald It’s nice to meet you. Reginald Fortescue Smythe the Third.

Will It’s nice to see you again, Liz. This is the third in a row for you, eh? It’s going to be your hat trick! And Reginald…

Reginald Fortescue Smythe the Third…

Will Fortescue Smythe the Third… yes. So nice to have a little bit of blue blood around here. Makes a change from the riff-raff we usually get. Are you actually related to the royals?

Reginald 4962nd in line. Yes! I say! Eh, what what?

Will What what?

Reginald Exactly! Tally ho!

Will OK! Let’s get going and don’t forget you can play along at home too. Our first round is a quick-fire round. I’m going to give you some adjectives and I want you to give me the superlative form. Ready? Posh.

LizPoshest.

Leslie Correct!

Will Strange.

ReginaldStrangest.

Leslie Correct!

Will Upper-class.

LizMost upper-class.

Leslie Correct!

Will Bad.

ReginaldWorst.

LeslieCorrect!

Will Dopey.

LizDopiest.

Leslie Correct!

Will Drab.

ReginaldDrabbest.

Leslie Correct!

Will Leslie?

Leslie Jolly good! Superlatives are used when one thing or person in a group is outstanding in some way. To make a superlative, modify an adjective. If it has one syllable, add 'EST'. If it has two syllables, it may take 'EST' or 'most' or either! Check a dictionary. If it has three syllables or greater, we add ‘most’. The last group is irregular, such as ‘best’ and ‘worst’.

Will Well done both of you! Have 15 points each.

Reginald Hang on a moment… Now, I do hope none of those superlatives were directed at me, eh what what?

Will At you, sir? Heaven forbid! I mean, you are blue blood after all.

Reginald I like the cut of your jib, young lad, eh what what?

Will Why, thank you, sir. Let’s move on to our second round. We often use the word ‘than’ in comparative sentences, but what ‘th’ word do we often use in superlative sentences?

LizWe use ‘the’! Will is the best!

Leslie Correct!

Will Flattering and correct! Very good. Now, which other type of phrase commonly goes with a superlative?

LizA prepositional phrase. Will is the best person in the world!

Will Stop it, you! This is the last question of this round. When do we use a prepositional phrase beginning with ‘of’?

LizIs it something to do with using a plural noun?

Will Leslie?

Leslie Well done! We almost always use ‘the’ in a superlative phrase. If we wish to define the superlative further with a group or place, we can use a prepositional phrase. If the place or group is singular, we usually use ‘in’. For example, …in the world. Before a plural, we can use ‘of’. For example, he’s the fastest of them all.

Will Good work Liz… have twenty-eighty-sixy points for you.

Reginald I say… should she be answering before me? I am royalty, you know!

Will I’m sorry, sir… but she was quicker than you!

Reginald But she’s… a member of the public, eh, what what?

Will My apologies, but that’s the game, eh, where why? Let her have this one, eh, who who? I mean, she’s one of ‘those people’ after all.

Reginald Ah, yes, of course. Eh, what what?

Will Exactly, which which! On to our third round then! Which verb form can be used to complete all three of these sentences?a) She’s the youngest person _______.b) We need the best-qualified candidates _______.c) This the most expensive coffee _______.

LizIt’s the infinitive!

Reginald Blast it all!

Will Can you give me an example?

Liz She’s the youngest person to fly around the world.

Will Excellent. Leslie?

Leslie Spot on, eh, what what! After a superlative, we can use an infinitive to further define the noun – much like a relative clause. For example, we need the best-qualified candidates to do the job.

Will Well done Liz. Another sixty points for you. And that brings us to the end of today’s Grammar Gameshow. Let’s count out the points. And the winner is… Liz! With 4962nd in line for the throne points. Well done, Liz! Here’s what you’ve won!

Leslie It’s a monkey statue!

Will We’ll see you again next week, where you can play for another prize. And Reginald…

Reginald Fortescue Smythe the Third…

Will Fortescue Smythe the Third, yes. How does it feel to lose to the great unwashed?

Reginald Oh, it’s not so bad. She put up a good fight. I do have one request, though.

Will Yes?

Reginald Do make sure they are the poshest animals you can find, please. Pure pedigree?

Will I’ll do my best.

Reginald Daddy always wanted me to fall in a war. For King and country!

Will Release the extremely working-class bees, eh, what what? It looks like we’ll need another contestant. Thanks for joining us. Say goodbye Leslie

Did you like that? Why not try these?

Superlatives

Superlatives are adjectives that we use when something is outstanding in a particular way. John is the fastest person I've ever seen.Making superlativesThere are three types of superlative adjectives:Type 1: one-syllable or some two-syllable adjectives - Add 'EST'Type 2: some two-syllable adjectives and three or greater syllable adjectives - Add 'most'Type 3: Irregular

Be careful! There are many two syllable adjectives in English that can be correctly used as type one or type two superlatives!Type 1: Will is the handsomest game show host.Type 2: Will is the most handsome game show host.

Type 1 superlativesIf the adjective has one syllable, or is one of the certain group of two-syllable adjectives, add 'EST'. 'fast' becomes 'fastest'If the adjective ends in 'E', just add 'ST''nice' becomes 'nicest'If the adjective has two syllables and ends in 'Y', change the 'Y' to an 'I' and add 'EST''happy' becomes 'happiest'If the adjective ends in a single vowel followed by a consonant, double the consonant and add 'EST''hot' becomes 'hottest'

Type 2 superlativesIf the adjective has two syllables or greater, put 'most' before the adjectiveboring becomes most boring

The, in and ofIn sentences we often precede a superlative with the word 'the'. If we wish to define the superlative further with a group or place, we can use a prepositional phrase. If the place or group is singular, we usually use ‘in’. For example, …in the world. Before a plural, we can use ‘of’. For example, he’s the fastest of them all.It the coolest thing I've ever seen.You're the most intelligent girl in the room.He's the least friendly of them.

InfinitivesAfter a superlative, we can use an infinitive to further define the noun – much like a relative clause. She's the youngest person to complete the marathon.

To do

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The Grammar Gameshow Quiz

3 Questions

Test your grammar knowledge with the Grammar Gameshow quiz!

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Test your grammar knowledge with the Grammar Gameshow quiz!

Hint

In sentences we often precede a superlative with the word 'the'.

Question 1 of 3

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Which of these sentences incorrectly uses a superlative?

aIt was the most incredible holiday we'd ever had.T2ggZGVhciEgWW91IGNob3NlIHRoZSB3cm9uZyBhbnN3ZXIuIExlc2xpZSBpcyBzbyBkaXNhcHBvaW50ZWQgd2l0aCB5b3UhIFRoaXMgc3VwZXJsYXRpdmUgc2VudGVuY2UgaXMgY29ycmVjdCE=

bThat was the most fun I've ever had at a concert.T2ggZGVhciEgWW91IGNob3NlIHRoZSB3cm9uZyBhbnN3ZXIuIExlc2xpZSBpcyBzbyBkaXNhcHBvaW50ZWQgd2l0aCB5b3UhIFRoaXMgc3VwZXJsYXRpdmUgc2VudGVuY2UgaXMgY29ycmVjdCE=

cIt was best day ever.V2VsbCBkb25lISBUaGUgYXVkaWVuY2UgY2xhcHMsIHNob3V0cyBhbmQgd2hpc3RsZXMgeW91ciBwcmFpc2VzISBUaGlzIHN1cGVybGF0aXZlIHNlbnRlbmNlIGlzIG5vdCBjb3JyZWN0IGJlY2F1c2UgaXQgZG9lcyBub3QgdXNlIGEgJ3RoZScgYmVmb3JlIHRoZSBzdXBlcmxhdGl2ZSE=

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Activity

Test your grammar knowledge with the Grammar Gameshow quiz!

Hint

If we wish to define the superlative further with a group or place, we can use a prepositional phrase. If the place or group is singular, we usually use ‘in’. For example, …in the world. Before a plural, we can use ‘of’. For example, he’s the fastest of them all.

Question 2 of 3

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Which of these prepositional phrases cannot connect with this sentence: It's the tallest tree...

a... in the forest.T2ggbm8hIFRoYXQgd2FzIHRoZSB3cm9uZyBhbnN3ZXIhIFRoZSBhdWRpZW5jZSBhcmUgYm9vaW5nIGF0IHlvdSEgV2UgdXN1YWxseSB1c2UgJ2luJyB3aXRoIGEgc2luZ3VsYXIsIHN1Y2ggYXMgJ2ZvcmVzdCcuIFRoaXMgcHJlcG9zaXRpb25hbCBwaHJhc2UgaXMgY29ycmVjdCE=

b... of the forest.V2VsbCBkb25lISBXaWxsIGZsYXNoZXMgeW91IGEgZ2FtZSBzaG93IHNtaWxlISBXZSB1c3VhbGx5IHVzZSAnb2YnIHdpdGggYSBwbHVyYWwsIHdoaWNoICdmb3Jlc3QnIGlzIG5vdCEgV2VsbCBzcG90dGVkIQ==

c... of them all.T2ggbm8hIFRoYXQgd2FzIHRoZSB3cm9uZyBhbnN3ZXIhIFRoZSBhdWRpZW5jZSBhcmUgYm9vaW5nIGF0IHlvdSEgV2UgdXN1YWxseSB1c2UgJ29mJyB3aXRoIGEgcGx1cmFsLCBzdWNoIGFzICd0aGVtJy4gVGhpcyBwcmVwb3NpdGlvbmFsIHBocmFzZSBpcyBjb3JyZWN0IQ==

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Activity

Test your grammar knowledge with the Grammar Gameshow quiz!

Hint

After a superlative, we can use an infinitive to further define the noun – much like a relative clause.

Question 3 of 3

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Complete this superlative sentence: She was the most intelligent student...

astudy at this college.T2ggZGVhci4gWW91IGNob3NlIHRoZSB3cm9uZyBhbnN3ZXIhIExlc2xpZSB3aWxsIGJlIHNvIGRpc2FwcG9pbnRlZCEgQWZ0ZXIgYSBzdXBlcmxhdGl2ZSwgd2UgY2FuIHVzZSBhbiBpbmZpbml0aXZlIHRvIGZ1cnRoZXIgZGVmaW5lIHRoZSBub3VuIOKAkyBtdWNoIGxpa2UgYSByZWxhdGl2ZSBjbGF1c2UuIFRoaXMgaXMgYSBiYXJlIGluZmluaXRpdmUgZm9ybSBhbmQgc28gZG9lcyBub3QgZml0LiBXZSBuZWVkIGFuIGluZmluaXRpdmUgd2l0aCAndG8nLg==

bstudied at this collegeT2ggZGVhci4gWW91IGNob3NlIHRoZSB3cm9uZyBhbnN3ZXIhIExlc2xpZSB3aWxsIGJlIHNvIGRpc2FwcG9pbnRlZCEgQWZ0ZXIgYSBzdXBlcmxhdGl2ZSwgd2UgY2FuIHVzZSBhbiBpbmZpbml0aXZlIHRvIGZ1cnRoZXIgZGVmaW5lIHRoZSBub3VuIOKAkyBtdWNoIGxpa2UgYSByZWxhdGl2ZSBjbGF1c2UuIFRoaXMgaXMgYSBwYXN0IHZlcmIgZm9ybSBhbmQgc28gZG9lcyBub3QgZml0LiBXZSBuZWVkIGFuIGluZmluaXRpdmUgd2l0aCAndG8nLg==

cto study at this college.V2VsbCBkb25lISBZb3UgaGF2ZSBiZWVuIHBheWluZyBhdHRlbnRpb24hIFdpbGwgZG9lcyBhIGxpdHRsZSBkYW5jZSBmb3IgeW91ISBBZnRlciBhIHN1cGVybGF0aXZlLCB3ZSBjYW4gdXNlIGFuIGluZmluaXRpdmUgdG8gZnVydGhlciBkZWZpbmUgdGhlIG5vdW4g4oCTIG11Y2ggbGlrZSBhIHJlbGF0aXZlIGNsYXVzZS4g